Ready to spec out my new Challenger R/T

[MikeNSX]

Well maybe...

It's time to spec out my '09 Challenger, but I'm trying to figure out if I want to go ahead and get it. I just sold my '69 Chevelle last weekend, but will have to sell one or two more of my current cars to buy it, and I'm trying to figure out if that's what I really want to do.

I'm thinking of ordering an R/T model in TorRed with the 27J package (375hp Hemi, 6 speed Tremec transmission, anti-spin differential, aluminum pedals, performance steering, Trak Pak, 276 watt 6 speaker Boston Acoustics sound system, 3.92 axle, heavy duty brakes), 20" wheels and perhaps a sunroof (or not). The car lists at around $34,500 without the roof and another $950 with.

Back to the dilemma...selling several more of my cars to buy the Challenger.

You can see the vehicles I currently own in my Profile to the left, and would need to sell one or two to fund the Challenger purchase. I wouldn't sell the NSX or the '70 Chevelle, but would choose from the others.

What do you guys think? Is the new Challenger worth giving up a few of these cars for, or should I just keep what I've got?

Here's a few pics of an SRT8 Challenger I took yesterday.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u296/MikeNSX22/DSCF2365.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u296/MikeNSX22/DSCF2366.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u296/MikeNSX22/DSCF2370.jpg

[Matt]

yes

[BenS]

I would wait and see how the market bears out before plunking down that much coin. Who knows how much gas will be at the end of the year. Dealers may be giving them away, especially given Chrysler's financial condition.

[Gittyup]

Well list and what you are gonna pay are very different as you know I'm sure, if it were me...I would wait on a better deal. It's not like you are hurting for a ride. Just like all the folks who bought Shelby GT 500 's WAY over sticker,and now they are coming down , I would let it simmer for awhile and watch the market on these things for a bit. And really...that one in your pic is in a dealership right? Why the hell they got it chained off like it 's some one off show car?

[SWIFT]

I want the srt version. That may be my next vehicle. I'm not paying 50k for one though, I'll let the market die down some.

[GarageLogic]

One thing going in favor of the selling price of a Challenger versus what the GT500's went for initially is the current fuel prices. When the Shelby's came out in '06, people were buying up large SUV's and musclecars with little or no regard to their fuel economy. With gasoline over $4 a gallon today, dealerships are going to have a hard time selling these cars at msrp, let alone at a premium. I suspect that once the hardcore Mopar guys who want a Challenger have one in their garage, you will see the selling price come down dramatically. I would hold out until next spring and see what the market looks like then.

On a related note, I'm still trying to convince Leslie to trade the Crossfire in on one of these cars in about 8-9 months.:-p I would want a manual car, so it would have to be the next model year car for me. Otherwise, this is exactly what I would order.
http://www.tennesspeed.net/gallery/data/500/Challenger1.jpg

[MikeNSX]

Well list and what you are gonna pay are very different as you know I'm sure, if it were me...I would wait on a better deal. It's not like you are hurting for a ride. Just like all the folks who bought Shelby GT 500 's WAY over sticker,and now they are coming down , I would let it simmer for awhile and watch the market on these things for a bit. And really...that one in your pic is in a dealership right? Why the hell they got it chained off like it 's some one off show car?

I would be paying MSRP for my car.

The car chained off in the dealership has been sold. I was told that they sold it to a person from California who is flying into Nashville today, staying downtown to see the fireworks, and that he and his girlfriend are picking up the car tomorrow and driving it back to California.

[Good2GetBlown]

I would wait and try and find a used SRT in a couple monthes first... 6.1 would be worth the wait.

[turbolover02]

i would wait and try and find a used srt in a couple monthes first... 6.1 would be worth the wait.


yes

[ReefBlueCoupe]

I wouldn't sell any semi-rare cars to buy a heavy factory pig that anyone could buy.

:2cents:

[2burnouts]

theres a 6.1 up at our local dealership,sharp, BIG ,i wouldn't give up the saleen for one.its priced at 42k.he told me next year there will be 6 bangers in them.so get them while u can,other hand he was a car salesman.

[GarageLogic]

I wouldn't sell any semi-rare cars to buy a heavy factory pig that anyone could buy.

:2cents:To be quite honest, anyone could buy a semi-rare classic car, too. I'm pretty sure Chevelle's were considered "heavy factory pigs" in their day compared to the other, lighter performance cars that were available at the time.

[MikeNSX]

My bigest problem with buying a new Challenger is that I would have to sell one or possibly two more of the cars from my collection to fund the purchase. All seven of the weekend "toys" I have right now are not depreciating at all, and in some cases, are going up in value.

They do not make any of the cars I currently own any longer, and several are highly desired and collectible and I believe will continue to be. In fact, I really believe that the 3 Japanese cars I own (the NSX, the Supra and the 300ZX Twin Turbo) will be much higher priced in 10-15 years, as younger guys (like my 20 year old son) who love these type of cars, will be coming of age in 10-15 years and will then have the $$$ to buy one of the cars that they longed after when they were younger. Kind of how I am with old Corvettes and muscle cars, since I grew up during this era.

My biggest concern is that once the hype of the Challenger goes away in a few years (and it will, just like it did for the Prowler, the Viper and many other high profile cars), they will certainly drop in value, where my current cars probably won't. From a purely economic standpoint, I'd be far better to keep what I have.

That said, I'd love to have a new Challenger. It really makes me excited to see a car of my youth be brought back in such a way, but with new technology that makes it faster, stop better, get better gas mileage, be more dependable, etc. It would make a great daily driver for me that I'd probably keep from now on. I had a '68 Charger back in high school, and this is the closest thing I've seen to it that might give me that same feeling I had in high school driving the Charger. Re-living the good old days, I guess you could say.

Tough call for me to make.

[GarageLogic]

My biggest concern is that once the hype of the Challenger goes away in a few years (and it will, just like it did for the Prowler, the Viper and many other high profile cars), they will certainly drop in value, where my current cars probably won't. From a purely economic standpoint, I'd be far better to keep what I have.If you are looking at the cars you have as an investment or a possible retirement account in the future, then keeping them is a good plan. Most likely, they will only appreciate in value, as you have already noted. That being said, if you don't plan to ever sell any of them at some point in the future, then they really are not investments but simply a collection that you will pass down to your children/family.

I get a lot of grief from people for drving the snot out of my GT500 but mostly because they believe putting miles on a car that might be worth something in 20-30 years is will hurt the resale value. I don't care because I have a retirement/investment program in place for my elder years and I enjoy driving the car, not just walking out into the garage and looking at it from time to time.

[ReefBlueCoupe]

To be quite honest, anyone could buy a semi-rare classic car, too. I'm pretty sure Chevelle's were considered "heavy factory pigs" in their day compared to the other, lighter performance cars that were available at the time.

The other cars are rare now. The Challenger isn't. It might be in 20 or 40 years, but I don't think Mike is buying the car with the hopes it becomes rare in a few decades.

Mike, if you really want a car that makes you feel like you did when you had your '68 Charger, you should just go buy a '68 Charger :cool:

That would actually be worth selling off a few from your collection.

[venom_5]

they don't look as good in person as they do online ... at least in my opinion, idk if youve been in one or anything yet, but i was around 3 or 4 during my trip to Michigan in May

plus its not worth selling any of the cars you have now - they're all great cars ... get one in 10 years when they go down in value, like you said, if you really want one

[dbarnes302]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you're a shrewd businessman that has his future retirement plans thought out to the point that automobiles are not the sole components.

Like Mortimer said to Randolph (Trading Places 1983).... SELL SELL SELL!!!

Get the Challenger, maybe not now since a better deal is still yet to come with the fools in Washington twiddling thumbs on drilling for oil BUT yes get the Challenger!

[jdmpwr07]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/jdmpwr07/dodge-challenger-srt8-2009-782271.jpg

Or...

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/jdmpwr07/chevrolet-camaro.jpg

:D

[mustangdave]

IF...you do this...go to NASHVILLE Dodge...see Hector...he took good care of my brother in law when he bought his SRT8 Charger last yr. you'll come in a tic below MSRP. He

[Slovette]

I saw a few of them the other day and they looked very Nice I like them ......Black on black !!!

[venom_5]

the camaro looks even worse in person than the challenger does ... but the camaro is still earlier in the pre-production phase, so you could tell that certain areas were still going through design changes/modifications

[PhoenixINX]

bought his SRT8 Charger last yr. you'll come in a tic below MSRP. He

Only a tick????

Charger SRT8s could easily been had for invoice if not below then... You sure you meant to say MSRP?

[tooslow]

Only a tick????

Charger SRT8s could easily been had for invoice if not below then... You sure you meant to say MSRP?


That's what I was thinking. :D Of course, believe it or not, there are people still out there that pay MSRP, or get happy when they get several hundred below MSRP. :lol:

[kyleboi]

I wouldn't sell off any of your current collection for the new Challenger. Just my .02 cents.

[12SecUV]

Love your collection as I am a fan of almost all muscle cars but if driving around in a new Challenger will make you happy then go for it! Trade some old fun to get some new fun. It is all good.

Don't know how much modding you plan to do if any but there is lots available now for the 6.1 & 5.7's. The 6.1 is a beast but the 5.7 is better on gas. Depends on your end goals.

I'd go black or silver SRT8 w/6 speed and LSD, but it is your money and your ride. Enjoy!

Also, call Wayne at Southeast C/D/J (255-7000) and tell him Jimmy with the SRT8 Jeep said to call.

[JohnC]

I'd trade for the newer car.

Old cars are nice, rare, and all that, but nothing beats the upgrades a new car comes with. Plus it'll have that new car smell! :)

[mustangdave]

Only a tick????

Charger SRT8s could easily been had for invoice if not below then... You sure you meant to say MSRP?


uh...yeh...I meant to say MSRP...my brother in law...saw what he wanted..price was no object. Told the sales gut THIS IS WHAT I WANT...sale guy says sure no problem...that'll be $47K...he stroked him a check for the FULL amount. Don't ask me why...Personally I woulda tried to dicker some. But as PT Barnum once said...there's a sucker born every minute.

[PhoenixINX]

But as PT Barnum once said...there's a sucker born every minute.

Any chance ole PT could give me his little black book?

Ted and I have a dealership to open up to this niche clientele...

[mustangdave]

:lol::lol::D...someone already beat you to it..its called Galpin Automotive Group in SoCal:cool:

[Moody]

While I won't speculate on your auto collection's value over the next 10-15 years, I will say one thing in particular - I won't tell you to sell the classics that you have, because that's a moot point in buying a new Challenger (to get retro styling, for the masses, in a brand new production vehicle). I would think that it would be a little counter-productive to sell a real classic vehicle, in turn to go out and buy something that wants to be "classic".

Now, the Japanese vehicles, on the otherhand, aren't proven. I will tell you one thing, though - because you're keeping the NSX (which I know has alot of sentimental value to you), then you need to dump the Z32 and especially the Supra. I know that the Supra is super-clean, in good shape, and a nice driver, but it's never going to be worth what most think that they will be, and especially because it's not a factory turbo car, the valuation of it will be substantially less to those who "always wanted one, yet cannot afford one at this time" later on in life. Really, there are only 3 types of Supras that bring, and will bring later on, higher values: Factory turbo hardtop cars from 1993.5-1995, 1997 6-speed cars, and 1998 cars in general. I wouldn't sacrifice buying something that's fun and a great car all around for an older Japanese car that's going to sit there, and this is coming from someone who LOVES older Japanese cars.

[MikeNSX]

I've decided to pass on the Challenger right now and keep my current cars.

I've got a fairly diverse collection right now that I really like, and since I'd only be driving the Challenger about 3000 miles a year or so, it seems better to keep what I've got.

The one car I drive the least is my GTO Convertible clone, and that's what I probably would've sold to buy the Challenger.

After spending the better part of 2 years restoring it, I believe I should just keep it instead of buying something new.


http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u296/MikeNSX22/DSCF2055.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u296/MikeNSX22/2006_0425Image0040.jpg

[venom_5]

good choice Mike!

you can always pick one up in a few years ... i doubt they will be hard to find, and you probably wont have to sell so much to pick one up either

[2burnouts]

buy a 6 banger one in 5 years throw the 6.1 in it